IPL Staff Reviews

Unsaid by Neil Abramson

2012-01-24T20:11:00.006-06:00

This book was a little different - it is narrated by Helena. And it is well-narrated. The only thing is.....well, Helena is dead. But she is hanging around and looking in on her former life. It breaks her heart to watch David, her husband. He is a high-powered NY lawyer who was willing to commute in order to give Helena the life she craved. Helena, a vet, was working in a small clinic and living on a farm with her assortment of adopted animals (dogs, cats, horses and a pig). As she was dying of cancer she tried to convince David that he should move back to the city. But David wants to stay in the place where they were happy. It is a very touching story (especially if you are an animal lover). Of course David quickly finds out that he can't handle anything. He also finds out that Helena had been keeping a very dark secret from him and the anger almost overwhelms him. The characters are so well-defined that I felt that I knew them. I laughed and I cried during this book. I loved it!

The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

2012-01-19T20:18:00.007-06:00

A few years back I had several friends who walked a half-marathon in Des Moines. They trained for months so that they would be in good shape. In this book Helga and Clara (mother and daughter) walk across the country with no training (unless you consider the fact that Helga had gave birth to 9 children, lived in a sod house as a teenage bride and mother, and was obsessed with cleanliness in order to keep her family safe.) What a fascinating book! Before I tell you about the book, I want to tell you that this is based on a true story. Helga was born in Norway and moved to Minnesota as a young girl. At 15 she was pregnant and married. Soon she and her husband were living in a sod house with several children. ( I was so intrigued by this story that I am reading a non-fiction book about them and that is where I read this information.) Later they moved to Washington State. One of her children died shortly before the walk. The book begins in 1896 with Clara's mother, Helga, informing her oldest child that the two of them are going to walk from Spokane to New York City! Clara is very unhappy. She had been working for a rich family but had plans to attend a university the next fall. Instead she takes off on a journey to win $10,000 in prize money to save their farm from foreclosure. Helga leaves her husband and seven children (the youngest is 2) at home. The first part of the book is about the journey. They took off with $5 each, a few items in a bag and that's it. No extra clothes or anything! The rules set forth required that they could not 'beg' for anything along the way, but if someone offered something they were allowed to take it. To make money they would have to find jobs in cities along the way. The second part deals with the aftermath of the trip - Clara's name change, why she became estranged from her family and her new career. I have attached a picture of Helga and Clara. In it they are sporting the new 'reform dresses' that they were to promote for some of their sponsors. This is one fascinating story!

Death Benefits by Robin Cook

2012-01-19T19:55:00.002-06:00

As usual, Robin Cook has delivered a great medical thriller. There are three different story lines going on that are intertwined. First is a med student named Pia. She had a very difficult childhood and was part of the foster care system. That experience has affected her ability to trust and to love - which is why she does not return the affections of fellow student George. Pia has been working for a well-renowned geneticist, Rothman, who is on the brink of a discovery that will help prolong the lifespan of people in need of organs. Second is a group of 'suits' who use their brains and experience to prolong the lifespan of their bank accounts. They buy insurance policies for the terminally ill. The faster those people die, the richer they become. When they hear about the possibility of new organs being grown, they are most unhappy! The third group is from the Albanian mob. (I am so out of it that I didn't even know that they had a mob!). They were my least favorite part of the story. There is romance, suspense, science, murder - a bit of everything.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

2012-01-10T17:22:00.002-06:00

We don't own this book, but it is available to be checked out as an e-book. This was my first e-book that I have checked out and read. All of the staff has been checking out and returning e-books so that we could become proficient enough to help all of you patrons who received e-readers for Christmas! During one of my practice sessions I saw this book and decided to put a hold on it. I downloaded it on Friday and was able to return it on Saturday - because it read quickly and I really liked it. It caused a lot of controversy when it was published - and it was easy to see why. Amy grew up in America but raised by a traditional Chinese mother. (Although Amy's mom is Chinese, she points out that anyone can be a Chinese mother!). As a former teacher I can tell you that most teachers were thrilled to see a name on their rosters that seemed to be Asian - because normally they were kids that would do what was asked of them - and more!. They tended to have Chinese mothers. It would take too long to tell you what a Chinese mother does. Suffice it to say you will probably be as shocked as I was. This book is the story of the marriage between a Chinese Catholic woman and a White Jewish man who had two daughters. Amy is going to raise her girls the way she was raised. It worked well with daughter number one - and not so well with daughter number two! I know one thing. I would not have the stamina to be a Chinese mother (or the daughter of one) for even a week! Well worth reading - it will keep you thinking for quite a while.

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

2012-01-10T16:41:00.002-06:00

This book has been in the library since June and every time I saw the cover I thought "that looks like a good book". Last week I finally checked it out. Once again my instinct was correct - good cover= good book. Well, that may not always work, but it did this time. I very much enjoyed the cast of characters - the good, the bad and the strange. There is a family story that is told bit by bit which kept me wanting to know what happened in the past. The main character is Madeline Stone. She was raised by Emma after being abandoned by her mother and rejected by her grandfather. Now she is grown up and living in the house Emma left her when she died. Her life consists of doing some art, working as a waitress and spending time with her boyfriend. Then one day she receives a request from Gladys. Gladys was her deceased grandfather's "friend". Every year Madeline would receive a birthday card and $5 from Gladys. Now Gladys wants Madeline to move up to the UP in Michigan and help care for Gladys' sister, Arbutus. Madeline is angry that she would be asked to do that. I bet you have already guessed that she ends up there anyway! This book is a story of a small town, the people who live there and learning to forgive. I enjoyed it a lot.

Close Your eyes by Amanda Eyre Ward

2012-01-05T16:56:00.003-06:00

Lauren and Alex were typical kids. They loved to have adventures. So one night they slept out in the tree house their father had built for them. When they go into the house the next morning Alex discovers the body of their mother - and soon after their father is arrested. They are now grown up. Lauren is working as a real estate agent and living with her boyfriend Gerry. Gerry loves her and wants to get married but Lauren has trust issues. The only one she knows won't betray her is Alex. Then he tells her that he has been in touch with their imprisoned father - worse yet, Alex thinks he is an innocent man. To make matters as bad as they can get Alex also announces that he is going to the Middle East to work with Doctors Without Borders. Lauren is finally forced to confront the memories from her childhood and to face the truth. I really liked the book- it kept me interested from start to finish!

the world as we know it by Joseph Monninger

2012-01-03T19:01:00.003-06:00

On the back cover is one paragraph that gives you a lot of information. Two young brothers, Ed and Allard, meet their new neighbor, Sarah, when they are skating. Sarah has broken through some ice in the river and would have died if it were not for the quick-thinking and heroic actions of the brothers. A strong bond is formed among the three of them. And for Sarah and Allard love soon followed. Nothing can break their bond until a tragedy in Wyoming. My first reaction is that there isn't much left to reveal in the book other than what the tragedy is! The book, however, is much more than these events. The descriptions of the area, of the dreams of these young people and of the reactions to the events were wonderful. Definitely worth reading!

Snow Play by Birgitta Ralston

2011-12-30T15:08:00.002-06:00

Face it: we live in Iowa, it's winter, and sooner or later we'll have snow. Until then, take some time to plan fun family snow adventures, as suggested in Snow Play. From snow angels and simple snowmen, to elaborate sculptures, snow slides, and structures big enough to stand up in, this idea book offers clear instructions, lists of tools and equipment, suggested difficulty of projects and the length of time each should take. It also sparks the imagination, especially the section called Magical Lights, which includes a winter campfire, snowball lanterns, and even a frosted cake. This year, be prepared for winter with plans to get the family outdoors and make something fun and unusual with ideas from Snow Play. You'll find this book in the Juvenile Non-fiction section (J796.9 Ral) but most of these activities need an adult helper, so dig out the long underwear.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (FIC Dif)

2011-12-28T12:59:00.002-06:00

At age 18, Victoria has aged out of the California foster-care system with nothing to help her make her way on her own - except a love of flowers and an understanding of their language that she learned at her longest and most-loved foster home.

Initially homeless, Victoria finally finds a job with a florist and gradually learns to make her way. Her inability to relate well to others or let her guard down long enough to make friends hinder her adjustment. It is only while working with flowers that she is truly complete and at peace. And not until she comes to terms with her past and that long-ago most-loved foster home will she be able to move forward completely.

The book is written in chapters that alternate between Victoria in the present day and Victoria at age 9. Gradually both stories are told and we come to understand why Victoria is the way she is and hope that she will be able to overcome those early obstacles.

I can't tell you exactly why I loved this book. Perhaps it was the emphasis on flowers and their hidden meaning (the author includes a brief dictionary in the back). Or perhaps it was the author's ability to make me completely understand the way the young Victoria felt, her fears and insecurities. Or perhaps it was the way the author was able to make the adult Victoria, surely not very likable at all, likable. Whatever the reason, I looked forward to reading this book, slowed myself down when I got near the end, and mourned its completion.

Bones under the Beach Hut by Simon Brett

2011-12-28T12:31:00.003-06:00

Ah, a British mystery. So right away you know there is not going to be much gore (which is fine with me). It will be about the people and slowly figuring out what really happened. It is so much more fun to have a crime solved this way than in a DNA lab. You might have surmised that there are some bones.......and they were found under a beach hut. Carole Seddon is one of those people who seem to attract mysteries. She is sub leasing a beach hut when she discovers a burned section of the hut. As with all cozy mysteries it is not really about the crime - but the journey we take on the way to having the crime solved. The characters are....well they ARE characters! There are little side mysteries that also kept me entertained. If you like this genre you will enjoy this book!

Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard

2011-12-28T12:10:00.002-06:00

We have lots of books by Ms. Shepard in our library but they are teen books. So normally I wouldn't have paid any attention to this one - except that I loved the cover. And that led me to reading the back of the book which led me to take it home! I enjoyed it a lot - it's full of family secrets within a dysfunctional family. Sylvie has recently been widowed. She has a married son, Charles, and her adopted son, Scott. Sylvie's passion is the private school which was founded by her grandfather. She has served on the board and appears to be prouder of that school than she is of either son. Scott has been helping with the wrestling program there. Everything falls apart one night when the school calls to tell her that there has been an 'incident'. A student appears to have killed himself - and perhaps it was a result of hazing. Oh, and did I mention that the student was a wrestler? But this really isn't about the wrestler. It is about the family's reaction to this possible scandal and one by one the layers of family secrets are revealed.

White Truffles in Winter by N.M. Kelby (FIC Kel)

2011-12-24T15:10:00.006-06:00

Word of warning: Don't read this book if you're hungry.

In the last year of her life, the wife of Auguste Escoffier, renowned French chef, is determined that he will create a dish just for her and name it after her. After all, he has created dishes for many other famous people, including the actress (and his one-time lover) Sarah Bernhardt. Why not his wife?

To do this she must rely on help from their cook, a local peasant girl named Sabine. And in this time right before the beginning of World War II (1935 to be precise) and in very reduced financial conditions, money to buy the necessary ingredients is hard to come by. Sabine comes to the task reluctantly, not being a particularly good chef and not quite sure about this family she has come to live with.

The author tells the story of Escoffier, his relationship with Bernhardt and other dignitaries of the time. She also interweaves the story of his marriage to the French poet Delphine Daffis and their longtime estrangement. Much about his life is unknown but I found myself mesmerized by the author's writing style and description of foods and cooking. (And also, often hungry.) The novel jumps back and forth in time and is told from different points of view, including the last book Escoffier is writing, but I found it easy to follow and enjoyable.

I suppose this could be considered a sad book since two of the main characters are facing the end of their lives but it is also a book about love and finding yourself and hope and I enjoyed it very much.

The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy

2011-12-15T16:32:00.002-06:00

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a WWII story but a little atypical because it takes place on the island of Guernsey. There is not the bombing, soldiers marching and midnight raids associated with most stories of that era. It is the story of Vivienne de la Mare. Her husband is off at war, she has two daughters and her mother-in-law, Evelyn, is slipping into dementia. The last boat is leaving for London and Vivienne is taking her daughters there to stay with her sister. Evelyn refuses to leave. At the last minute Vivienne decides she can't get on that small boat with her children and takes them home. Days later there is a bombing and the Germans arrive. Four soldiers move into the house next to Vivienne. Instead of vicious Nazis, she finds out that they are just men - who hate this war as much as she. They have real professions, real families and real fears. And she falls in love with one of them. It was an interesting story with believable characters.

Press Here by Hervé Tullet

2011-12-01T11:50:00.004-06:00

Whenever I read a review of a children's book that includes the word "interactive" I envision flaps to lift, tabs to pull, pop-up pages and all sorts of things that could be torn or worn out. I consider Press Here to be the most ingenious interactive book for children I've ever seen, and it doesn't have a flap, tab or pop-up anywhere. What it does have is a single yellow dot in the middle of a page, with the instructions to press the dot and turn the page. Voila! Two yellow dots. Do it again, and there are three. Subsequent instructions lead to new colors, more dots, dots sliding this way and that, getting bigger and smaller. And all the while, there are subtle little concepts like counting, patterns, left and right, color mixing. A preschooler will need someone to read the instructions to make the book work. But I've watch teens and adults caught up in the fun of this book and buying in to the ruse that the actions are necessary to make the dots do their tricks. This is a great gift book; just don't be surprised if you see the older sibling or cousin (or grandparent for that matter) of the child you give it to shaking the book or clapping over the pages.

All Our Wordly Goods by Irene Nemirovsky

2011-11-29T16:33:00.002-06:00

Nemirovsky was a very talented writer who died at Auschwitz in 1942. Some of her works have just been translated into English and I will be keeping my eyes open for more to come. Google her name to read about the background of this woman and you will appreciate her books even more. This novel takes place between the 'war to end all wars' and World War II. It is a fascinating look into life when the line between classes was not crossed by most. Except Pierre and Agnes were in love. Pierre broke his engagement to Simone, a rich woman whose money would have helped the factory owned by Pierre's grandfather. He married Agnes, was declared a non-person by his grandfather and was soon sent off to war. The feuds that were started during this time reverberated for years to come. The story is so well-written. The characters are well-defined. You really get a feeling for France during the wars. If you like a book with a historical feel I highly recommend this one.

Unmeasured Strength by Lauren Manning 973.931 Man

2011-11-26T13:08:00.002-06:00

I read a lot of fiction, but when it comes to a story of courage there is no novel that compares to a true story. I finished this book some days ago, but it remains in my mind. I can not imagine enduring the pain or despair of Lauren for two minutes, much less years. Lauren was living a normal life - a husband, a child and a job. It was a normal morning. Before Lauren could get out the door the phone rang. A small problem with a rental property she and her husband Greg owned caused her to be running late. There are many people alive today because they too were running late that morning. It was September 11, 2001. I remember hearing parts of Lauren's story in those days after. She had just arrived in the building when the big fire ball came roaring into the lobby. Over 80% of her body was burned. This book gives some background on Lauren, tells the story of what happened that morning and then the part of her life that is unbelievable. The odds she beat, the pain she endured, the love and support of her family and the emotional trauma of learning bit by bit what happened to her Cantor Fitzgerald family. In November she began to ask about some of her colleagues. For some reason, the part that got to me was when Lauren asked Greg to get some things out of her office. "He said he would, but I noticed that his manner was a bit awkward. I asked a few other questions and then said, "How do the buildings look? Have they been dismantled?" "Crews are working on them," Greg answered." If you read this book you will have found a new hero. It is simply an incredible story.

Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn 641.507 Fli

2011-11-21T17:51:00.002-06:00

I loved Flinn's first book which told about her experiences attending the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. Back home she wasn't sure where she wanted her live to go....and then she saw this woman in the grocery store. Her cart was filled with examples of what not to eat for a healthy life. After covertly (she thought) following her around the store, Flinn approached her to ask a few questions and make some suggestions of things that would be healthier and cheaper. Although the woman didn't get down on her knees and promise to convert, this event gives Flinn an idea. She recruits some volunteers - woman who thought they were terrible cooks, or they thought they couldn't afford to eat 'real' food or they didn't have any idea about how to fix food. She visits these women in their homes. (The group included women who were single, married, rich and not so rich and of all ages.). Each was asked to prepare one of her typical dishesl. Flinn also went through the pantries to take inventory. I was embarrassed just thinking about my own stash of food! Then the 'classes' began. (I copied down some of the tips for myself! She was right about the way to hold the knife and cutting an onion went better than usual too!) I loved getting to know the 'students'. Flinn even inspired me a bit! I might actually make something....tomorrow.

Lost December by Richard Paul Evans

2011-11-19T09:59:00.003-06:00

If you are a fan of Evans' books you will not be disappointed. Although I am not generally a fan of 'mushy' books I always like his book. Part of it might be the time of the year and part of it might be because he really is a good writer. Luke Crisp had a mixed childhood. He lost his mother to cancer when he was young. Fortunately he had a great father and they grew very close. Luke began working in his father's business - Crisp's Copy Centers. By the time he graduated from college he was ready and eager to take on the family business. But his father wanted him to get a graduate degree in business. Luke wasn't opposed to the idea - until his father pushed him to go East and go to Wharton. When he arrives at school he is very lonely until a pretty girl talks to him and introduces him to her friends. Eventually Luke gets an education - the hard way. Think Prodigal Son!

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

2011-11-10T20:10:00.002-06:00

If you like reading books that are set during WWII, this one is good! I appreciated the story even more when I read the author's notes at the end of the book (which I would suggest you read first!). Many of the situations and events in the book actually happened - just not all to our fictional characters, Lenka and Josef. At the beginning of the book Josef is getting ready to attend the rehearsal dinner for his grandson. One can quickly grasp what life is like for this old man. At the dinner he meets the widowed grandmother of the bride. There is something about her that startles him. He believes he is looking at the wife he married before war broke out and they were separated. Then Richman throws us back to the past where we meet a young Lenka and the man that she will love forever. It is a powerful story told against the background of some of the last century's darkest days. I don't think we can ever be reminded often enough of what happened then - Lest we forget. If this type of book appeals to you I would highly recommend it.

Siren Song by Cat Adams

2011-11-09T10:06:00.001-06:00

This is the sequel to Blood Song, and was just as good... actually I take that back, it was better. Blood Song started out kinda slow, while Siren Song jumped right in the same day that Blood Song ended.

Celia is an abomination. She was a human bodyguard that was attacked in Blood Song by a vampire - but was not fully changed. Because of that partial change her heritage from her grandfather was brought forth, she is also part Siren. At her best friends wake (in Blood Song), Celia is summoned to the island of the Sirens, to stand trail for using her Siren powers on so many mortal men.

Teaming up with some old friends and some possibly new friends, she sets off for the island to meet her Siren relatives and to stand trial. While on the island, her friends who are still on the boat they took are attacked by a demon - the same demon we are introduced to in Blood Song. Celia then regroups her team, adds a few Siren allies and makes plans to defeat the demon once and for all.

This was definitely a great read. Refreshing to see some no so common fantasy creatures (such as the Sirens and Demons), great to get away from the common vampire (that has become so mainstream that it is now boring to read about).

I recommend this book to any science fiction / fantasy reader - know that there is "language" in this series, and the books DO need to be read in order.

The Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere

2011-11-08T15:16:00.002-06:00

It is that time of year when I enjoy a quick dip into the world of the Christmas novel. Gretchen has moved to be closer to her mother. She is not doing it to help her mother, but just the opposite. Gretchen is now a single mother with two children who are missing their father. In the condo next door lives Melissa. She is very abrupt, unfriendly and just down-right weird. One day a man knocks on Gretchen's door to see if she knows where Melissa lives. He is trying to find her to break the news that her mother has died and she has one week to clean out the apartment or he is throwing everything away. Melissa is at work and the man asks - well actually tells Gretchen that she needs to pass on the message. No way does Gretchen want to undertake that task. She avoids it for a while but eventually she does. Turns out Melissa and her mother weren't exactly close and she has no intentions of cleaning out the apartment. Eventually Gretchen talks her into doing it by offering to help her. Thus begins a rocky 'friendship' of sorts. It is a short book, so try to put a little Christmas magic on your reading list. Tis the season.

Betrayal of Trust by J. A. Jance

2011-11-03T20:01:00.003-05:00

I listened to the audio book from Jance's series featuring J.P. Beaumont (now working in a Special Homicide Unit. He and his wife Mel are called to the Governor's mansion. The Governor actually went to school with J.P. - although they hardly ran in the same circles. She found a video on the cell phone of her husband's grandson. It appears to be a snuff film - the victim a young girl being strangled by a blue scarf. A similar blue scarf is found in the boy's room. Obviously this is ....well too obvious! The boy denies everything -but then he commits suicide. There is a lot going on in the book - family relations, modern technology, and missing kids. As a side story Beaumont is doing a lot of reflecting back to his own childhood. He has been contacted by a woman who claims to be his cousin. Although he longs for a family connection he is not rushing into a meeting until this case is over. It was a good mystery - as are all of her books.

running away to home by jennifer wilson 305.891 Wil

2011-11-03T18:22:00.002-05:00

(and yes I know that I didn't capitalize - but that is the way the title was done on her book. She's the author and she gets to decide!)
I enjoyed this true story of Jennifer, her husband Jim and their two young kids. They are Iowans and were living in Des Moines where he was an architect and she was a travel writer. When they were young and childless they had dreamed of having an adventure and living abroad somewhere. Then they had kids and so it began - lots of driving around, buying stuff, fixing up the house....................... They end up going to Croatia which is where Jennifer's roots were. I won't go into how they made the decision- that is part of book! Jennifer goes over first to check out some things. After reading one paragraph of that section I know I would never have gone back much less moved there. But they are better people than I am! There was one short part of the book that had a little too much geneaology in it (I skimmed that part) but the rest of it was very interesting. I need to find out what happened to their lives after this year in Croatia - if the 'lessons' learned stuck with them or if they went back to their crazy lives!

the Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

2011-11-01T16:36:00.002-05:00

This was a typical Sparks book - and that was just fine! It is a love story but not too sloppy - or else I wouldn't be reading it! There are some mysterious pasts that are unraveled and a little bit of the supernatural thrown in. It is the story of Amanda and Dawson. She was a 'good girl' from a prominent family. He was really a good kid but from a family whose reputation was so bad that he really didn't have a chance. So of course they fell in love in high school. But a tragedy broke up the relationship. Twenty-five years later they are reunited in a strange way. An old man, Tuck, has died and his lawyer has contacted both Amanda and Dawson. Tuck had given Dawson a place to hide from his family. Amanda met him through Dawson and later began her own friendship with him when she came to town to visit family. As always, Sparks has done a good job with his characters.

Beauty in Bent Grass by Ruth Ada Clark 977.7 Cla

2011-10-27T19:45:00.002-05:00

This is a short, but very touching book. It is written by the mother of Christian John Clark. Christian was originally his middle name, but his parents changed it because John Clark is too common of a name and they were afraid there would be a mix-up in the hospital. And there were many trips to the hospital. Christian was a hemophiliac who grew up in Northeast Iowa. It is really unfair that I wrote that sentence. I should have first of all said that he was a boy of uncommon courage, a wonderful brother and son, and a very talented photographer. He didn't want to be know as 'the hemophiliac'. The suffering caused by that disorder is unbelievable. Then add to that the fact that he was HIV positive because this was all happening before the medical world knew to look out for tainted blood. There are lots of things that could have caused the demise of Christian. He died young (in his 20's) - but not of illness or disease. A car accident. Now decades later his mom uses some of her son's journals and her own memories to write the story of Christian. The title of the book comes from something he pointed out to his mother when he was taking pictures of things that she thought were ugly. He pointed out that there is even beauty in bent grass. You can't help but be inspired by this young man.

The Call by Yannick Murphy

2011-10-27T19:33:00.002-05:00

This is a quick read and I found it to be an interesting book. Murphy writes in a different style which I found refreshing for a change. It would take too long to describe it here but it is short and to the point. The other thing that interested me was that the main character, David, is a Veterinarian and we learn a lot about rural vets have to do (and most of it isn't pretty!). David takes his son, Sam, out to do some hunting. Sam is up in one 'stand' (I think that is what it was called!) and David is in another. A shot rings out and Sam falls from the tree. Although the gunshot wasn't very significant, he lands on his head and is in a coma. David did not see who fired the shot and the police were unable to find any evidence. David is obsessed with finding the guilty party - and everyone he looks out becomes a possible suspect. I really liked the book and would like to do some more reading by this author.

The Fifth Vial by Michael Palmer

2011-10-20T17:22:00.002-05:00

This book is several years old but I came upon it in the audio book section and took it home. Like all of his medical thrillers this one was well-written and a page-turner - well, I of course didn't have any pages to turn with an audio book but you get the idea. There are three main characters in the book and although they seem disconnected Palmer weaves their three separate stories into one. Natalie is a world-class athlete and a medical student. Academically she is a good student, but sometimes she says what she thinks - next thing she knows she is on the verge of being kicked-out permanently. But her mentor tries to smooth things over and to keep her busy during her "time-out". He sends her to South America to present a research paper. She never gets a chance because her cab driver takes her to a deserted part of town and when she tries to escape she is shot.
Ben is a private detective. He's had two other careers before this one and he still hasn't found his passion. He is thinking of hanging it up when he is approached to do some more detecting. This job takes him to Florida to try and get an i.d. on a man killed on a highway.
Joe Anson is working in Africa on an important medical breakthrough. He might not finish because his lungs are giving out on him.
An interesting, well-paced mystery that you might want to check out if you didn't read it the first time around.

She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

2011-10-20T16:57:00.002-05:00

This isn't the best book I've read, but I still enjoyed it. There are parts that I really enjoyed and could relate to. At the beginning of the book Ariel Baxter is moving to a new neighborhood that she is dying to live in. The downside is she has to leave her best friend and neighbor. That is painful for both of them. Soon after moving in she meets her new neighbor, Justine, and finds out that she is living in the house of Justine's best friend who had to move. So everyone is going through best-friend withdrawal and feeling at odds without having a strong supportive friend nearby. Ariel is organizationally challenged (another thing I related to!). Justine is pretty much a Martha Stewart. Justine plans to take Ariel under her wing and teach her how to get her act together and have the perfect home. As it turns out, Justine's life isn't quite as perfect as she lets on.

Bedbugs by Ben Winters

2011-10-20T16:32:00.002-05:00

Yes, this was a little bit of a creepy book to read - and I finished it last night as I was laying in my bed. Yes, I did check out the sheets. Anyway, back to the book! It is the story of Alex and Susan. She has given up being a lawyer to stay home with their daughter and hoping to restart her dreams of being an artist. Alex is running his own business. Things are going pretty well but Susan has finally convinced Alex that they need to get out of their tiny apartment. They find one that appears to be a steal. After moving in Susan begins to find bites every morning. Neither Alex nor daughter Emma appear to be a target. Susan begins to feel that she is losing control and everything is falling apart. It's a psychological thriller! It's a short book - I read it in one day. Interesting characters and more than a few facts about bedbugs! Read it if you dare.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

2011-10-17T10:21:00.003-05:00

Charlotte's Web, The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden . . . Classic children's books stay with us long into adulthood. And when we grow up, we switch to reading only books written for adults, whether they will be considered classics or not. More's the pity, because most adults end up missing out on some wonderful new titles being written for their children and grandchildren. Brian Selznick's new book Wonderstruck is just such a book. A talented writer and artist whose groundbreaking book The Invention of Hugo Cabret was awarded the Caldecott medal in 2008, Selznick has gone one better than that with his new title. It's a masterpiece of story and story-though-pictures, with so many supporting details woven seamlessly into the overarching storyline that the term "genius" comes to mind to describe the vision that brought forth this book.
Get yourself in line for a copy of Wonderstruck and plan to spend an evening (or two, maybe) being entralled by this masterful storyteller. If you have children third grade or older, read it together. Let them interpret, analyze and pore over the pictures that tell Rose's story, and you can be the narrator of Ben's life. You'll all be richer for the experience.

(The Indianola Public Library has two copies of this book in the New Juvenile Fiction section. You may have to place a hold to ensure your chance to check it out. It's a quick read so you shouldn't have to wait too long!)

Room by Emma Donoghue

2011-10-16T14:17:00.001-05:00

I work one weekend a month and so I have the Friday before that weekend off... which happens to fall on the day the Library has morning bookclub. This months book was Room by Emma Donoghue. It sounded like an interesting book, not one of my normal books (no magic, spaceships or creatures of any kind!), but one that I might enjoy... so I checked out a bookclub copy and dove right in.
Room is written from the perspective of 5 year old Jack. He lives with his "Ma" (her name is never given) in Room. Room is a shed turned nightmare for Ma. 7 years ago "Old Nick" tricked Ma, who was 19 at the time, into getting into his truck, and she has been locked in Room since.
Ma and Jack spend 100% of their time together, neither can be alone, they only have each other. Ma makes Room save for Jack - providing a day to day routine, including meal times, exercising, reading, craft time, and other educational activities.
But when an opportunity to escape appears, Ma convinces Jack to help them get out of Room and that is when things start to get a bit crazy for little Jack. He has only ever known Room, never been outside, never worn shoes, never talked with anyone but Ma. Now he is bombarded with this new world he didn't even know existed, and all he wants is to go back to Room where it is safe.
So, I went to Bookclub this past Friday to listen to the regular members discuss this book. The entire group is women, and the majority are 60+. What surprised me was that I took away from this book almost the same things as the other ladies in the club (of those that spoke up at least). Ma was a wonderful character doing her best to provide a safe environment in Room for Jack. Keeping Jack out of sight when "Old Nick" would come in at night.

I really enjoyed this book. It has some moments that you just can not put the book down, you have to know what happens next. I got very little sleep the week I read this, I could not put the book down. Highly recommended.

Going Home: finding peace when pets die by Jon Katz 155.937 Kat

2011-10-07T16:32:00.002-05:00

I love dogs. I love to read. But normally I do not combine the two - especially if I have any indication that the dog is going to die. (I know he's going to die - I just meant during the book!) I did love Marley and Me, but it took me over a year to get up the nerve to read it. Right now I have two adorable Yorkies waiting for me at home. This month they turn 15 1/2 and 14 1/2. That's old. That is really old. So the time is approaching. I know what needs to be done and I will be able to do it as I have done for past pets. I just thought I might need a pep-talk about my responsibilities. I was only able to read two or three pages a night - because I cried all the way through. A few days ago I got home from work and decided to just finish the book and the cry in one sitting. It isn't a very long book but it is long on good advice. I hope you are not in a situation where you need a book like this. If you are preparing for this sad event, buy a new box of Kleenex, grab this book and find a private place to read.

Second Nature by Jacquelyn Mitchard

2011-10-04T20:02:00.003-05:00

Sicily Coyne is a cute 13 year old. Her life is pretty typical. One December she is at Lady Chapel along with about 50 other people. They are practicing Christmas carols. And then her life changed forever. With unbelievable speed a fire began to sweep through the chapel which was so old that it was exempt from fire codes. Sicily's father, Jamie - a captain with the Fire Department - arrived quickly on the scene. Twenty-six kids were rescued. Jamie died in that fire with a child in his arms. Twelve years later Sicily is not so typical. She does have an education, an appartment, a boyfriend and a good job as a medical illustrator. She also keeps her nose in a jar. She doesn't like to eat out in public because she has problems getting the food to the back of her throat. The fire destroyed her face. This story is set in the future - no dates, but transplants have continued to improve and Sicily has an opportunity to get a new face. Of course it is not without risk. Should she take the chance or keep things the way they are? She is getting married in a few months - what does her fiance think she should do. You have probably figured out that she does opt for the transplant - but I am not telling you anything else! In this book you will also meet a few characters from Mitchard's past book. I enjoyed the story.

Long Drive Home by Will Allison

2011-10-04T20:01:00.004-05:00

In time of stress people don't always do the right thing. Perhaps none of us know how we would react in any given situation. For Glen Bauer everything changes in an instant. Glen is happily married and the father of Sara (who I think is 8). His wife, Liz, commutes to a high-powered job. Glen is an accountant who mostly works at home and therefore is in charge of picking up Sara from school. He has done it hundreds of times. But this time is different. It starts out with a little road rage. But it ends with an accident. A teenager is killed. Glen realizes that no one saw the accident - except for Sara. When the police come, Glen finds himself changing the story to make him look less guilty. It just might work - except what did Sara see and what will she tell her mom? And then there is that pesky detective who is a bit like Columbo. It gets harder and harder to keep Sara away from him. As Liz begins to learn more about what happened, their marriage begins to dissolve. It is a short book but powerful.

The Very Thought of You by Rose Alison

2011-10-04T20:01:00.003-05:00

I really liked this book. It begins with a description of an old Historic House in England. At the end of this prologue we learn that an old woman is sitting on a bench - she is dead and clasping a letter in her hand. Now the book rewinds to 1939 and an England on the brink of war. Students of history know that thousands of children were evacuated from London out to the countryside for safety reasons. It is a bit unimaginable to think of young children being taken from their homes and parents (or mothers in most cases) to an entirely foreign environment to live with strangers and in some cases scores of other young refugees. This is the story of Anna. Her father is away fighting the war and young Anna finds herself on a train to the unknown. She ends up with 70 other children on an estate owned by a crippled man and his beautiful wife. (They have a story to tell.) The book follows Anna's time in exile and up to the end of her life. Ms. Alison does a wonderful job of showing the effects of childhood experiences on the rest of one's life.

Lightstone by David Zindell

2011-09-27T18:42:00.002-05:00

Finally have time to blog about this book that I finished almost a month ago! This is the first book in a series of three I believe.

The story follows Valashu Elahad of Mesh (Val for short) on a journey to find the sacred Lightstone, a golden cup with magical properties. The journey starts out with an assassination attempt on Val but it is not the last.
Val is accompanied by two close friends, Prince Maram Marshayk of Delu and Master Juwain Zadoran of the Brotherhood. They begin their journey to a far kingdom where a king has asked those who wish to search for the Lightstone to make an official commitment to it.
On the journey to get there they meet up with Kane. He is very mysterious about everything, so they are hesitant to trust him, but allow him to join their group. On the outskirts of the kingdom they meet up with Atara Ars Narmada of Alonia and the Wendrush, also known as Atara Manslayer of the Kurmak. She is so named because she took a vow to kill 100 men, and she can not be wed until this vow has been completed.
Finally at the kingdom, they receive the blessing of the king and are joined by two additional adventurers, making their group a total of 7 people.
There is a prophecy; "The seven brothers and sisters of the earth with the seven stones will set forth into the darkness. The Lightstone will be found, the Maitreya will com forth and a new age will begin. A seventh son with the mark of Valoreth will slay the dragon. The old world will be destroyed and a new world created."
The seven brothers and sisters have joined, and they are gradually getting the seven stones through the journey.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I got a into the story I couldn't stop, and I plan to finish the rest of the series as well! If alot of details and strange names scare you away from reading a book this is not the series for you, but if you like something that's a bit different but still "on earth" this is a great story!

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson 643.1 bry

2011-09-25T14:27:00.002-05:00

I loved this book!!! I listened to the audio book which I think really added to my enjoyment. It is not a book for everyone. But I happen to love history and trivia. This would be the perfect book for a long car trip. (It also worked well for some weed-pulling and needlepoint!) Bryson takes us through every room in the house and gives us an interesting historical background on why that room exists. Some of things I already knew but I was astonished at the wealth of information he presented in the book. No, I didn't stay up late to listen to the book and no, I didn't rush home to continue reading it. But I was always interested and fascinated by the information. If you are a Bryson fan be sure to check out this one. And if you haven't been introduced to this author, try it - you might become his next fan!

French Lessons by Ellen Sussman

2011-09-25T14:09:00.002-05:00

I picked up this book because of the title. I used to teach French and thought it would be fun to read about a book set in Paris. I did enjoy it. It is the story of Josie, Riley and Jeremy who are all in Paris but for different reasons. They have all signed up for French lessons (no surprise to you I'm sure!). They aren't taking the traditional ones in a classroom. They are taking the ones where you get a personal tutor and then you spend the day in Paris! So we learn the stories of why these three are here and what they are hoping to gain. Josie has had her heart broken. Riley is living in Paris because of her husband's job - but she feels her husband moving away from their relationship. Jeremy is married to a famous actress and isn't sure that her world is what he wants. We also learn about the three tutors and their interconnecting stories. It was a quick, easy read. I will warn you that I would rate it R if that matters to you (one way or the other).

Allergic Girl by Sloane Miller 616.975 Mil

2011-09-25T13:38:00.002-05:00

This is a book about food allergies. No, I don't have food allergies. Although I could name some people with this affliction I have never shared a dinner or living quarters with them. So why, you ask, did I even read this book? I don't know. I liked the cover, which made me pick it up. I read the inside flap and it sounded sort of interesting. I read a few pages and I liked her style. So I read it! It really broadened my horizons about a subject that really is important in this day and age - because so many people are afflicted with this problem. And for many, it is a life-threatening condition. Ms. Miller did a great job of telling her story and challenges - from the time she was a small child to dating. Imagine, she has to explain to anyone she dates what her allergies are and what to do if she comes in contact with one of the allergens - not the most romantic of topics! If anyone in your 'world' has this problem I would highly recommend that you read this book. It will help you understand what you can (and should do) and be a little bit more sympathetic (perhaps not grumble so much that you don't get peanuts on the airplane!).

the Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer

2011-09-16T16:45:00.002-05:00

I have ever read anything by Meltzer until I listened to this book, but I definitely want to read more. On the back of the book there were quotes from people and publications comparing him to Grisham, Turow and Baldacci. I personally thought he wrote more like Dan Brown in The Da vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Our hero in this book is Beecher. He was your basic nerd in school. One pleasant memory he has kept through the years is that of Clementine. She was a tough girl - and he had admired her. There was even a kiss that happened between those two - and all these years later Beecher still remembers. Today Beecher is an archivist who works in the National Archives where the sitting president likes to come once a week to relax and look at old documents and books. This week it happens to be the same day that he is meeting Clementine! Yes, after all of those years he gets a chance to make a new first impression and he is nervous. She is the one who contacted him (on Facebook, of course!) because she wants him to help her find out who her father was. It was a political thriller that was full of historical trivia that I just love! It was a story of old crushes, friendships and of the age-old question - "Who can you trust?". Check it out!

The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman

2011-09-16T15:54:00.002-05:00

This was a good book. It is much heavier on the characters than on the mystery - which happens to be just the way I like it. It is about five people who were great friends when they were young. Three of them , Gordon (aka Go-Go), Sean and Tim are brothers. The females in the group were Gwen and Mickey. Gwen's father is a doctor and her mother is an artist (not one that actually earns money from it!). Mickey lives with her mom and stepfather. Her life was not very stable and she loved to come to Gwen's house where Gwen's mom kept special treats just for her. The girls spent hours with the brothers exploring the woods nearby. When the book begins these people are all grown up. Gwen's mom has been gone for a long time. Her father is getting ready to return home to his house after breaking his hip. Although they could afford to hire overnight help, Gwen decides to take on that duty herself - mostly so she can absent herself from her husband. She hasn't seen those friends for many years. But Go-Go is dead and that will lead to a reunion - and the revelation of a few secrets!

Dead by Midnight by Carolyn Hart

2011-09-08T20:05:00.001-05:00

I listened to this mystery and I enjoyed it a lot. It is what I call a gentle murder mystery. There is little violence - there are murders but we don't get a blow-by-blow of the gruesome details. Our 'heroine' of the story is Annie Darling who owns a bookstore named Death on Demand. Like earlier characters such as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Diane Mott Davidson's Goldie, Annie is a nice ordinary person - but people are always being murdered around her! She ends up helping to solve the crime. Not by means of forensic science but by just being an observant person who knows human nature. In this book Annie has hired Pat Merridew who, until recently, had worked at a law firm. She was basically fired and was desperate for the job - even though she doesn't seem to know much about murder mysteries. She didn't have much time to learn about them either because she is soon dead. The police want to attribute it to a suicide - but Annie thinks that doesn't make any sense. A light, entertaining book.

The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon

2011-09-08T19:35:00.002-05:00

I always enjoy a good mystery and this one was very appealing to me because it takes place in a school. I taught for over three decades and although there were some mysteries here and there, we never had an actual murder at school. Armitage Academy is not a public school. It is a very prestigious boarding school with a long history. Madeline is teaching English at the school for one year (thanks to some string-pulling by her sister who is an alum of the school). Along with the teaching there are other duties - including supervising (and living in) one of the dorms. The end of the school year is in sight when the unthinkable happens. One of Madeline's 'charges', Claire, is found dead in her dorm room. The school is thrown into chaos and the mystery grows when it is determined that Claire had recently given birth - and there is no baby in sight. Except for a small group of girls, no one had even noticed that Claire was pregnant. Now they are looking for a murderer and a baby. Madeline tries to help by talking to some of the students and she uncovers a secret society - could they be responsible for what has happened? Do you really think I am going to tell you????

The Medium Next Door by Maureen Hancock 133.9 Han

2011-09-01T18:47:00.002-05:00

As soon as this book was cataloged I knew that all other books would be stopped immediately so that I could read this one! I love reading about psychics and the afterlife. Hancock tells her story of growing up and trying to hide her abilities. After a bad car accident the voices that she had tried so hard to suppress came back full-force. She started using her gift, but it was only after 9/11 when she was bombarded with spirits wanting to get messages to their loved ones that she truly accepted her gift as a wonderful thing. Maureen has comforted the dying and the families of the dying. She has assisted law enforcement with the search for missing people. She is involved with her two nonprofit organizations. If you feel that no way is any of this true, then of course you won't be checking out this book! However, if you are open (even a little) to this idea, please take the time to read it. I think you will find it to be very comforting.

The Sixes by Kate White

2011-08-31T10:09:00.002-05:00

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a mystery that takes place in a small private college run by Glenda. Years ago her best friend, Phoebe, was harassed and targeted at school by a group of girls. She left the school with painful memories but she did gain a best friend in Glenda. All grown up, both women have found success. Phoebe has been writing celebrity biographies that have become bestsellers. But the life that Phoebe has been living in Manhattan changes suddenly. Her long-time boyfriend decides it isn't working and leaves her. She could have survived except next she is accused of plagiarizing. She is innocent, but you know how that goes! Glenda offers her an escape to regroup and stay out of the limelight. Shortly after Phoebe begins teaching, the body of a female student is found. Phoebe offers to help Glenda find out some information about a "secret society" called The Sixes because they might have had a hand in the murder. Given her own past history, it is difficult for Phoebe -but she will do anything to help her friend. It was fast-paced and interesting. If you like mysteries, check it out!

A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

2011-08-30T18:49:00.002-05:00

In this continuing story of Maisie Dobbs, our heroine is recruited by the British Secret Service. She is able to take the assignment without hesitation because she has inherited a large amount of money from her mentor. Her assignment is to procure a teaching position at a college in Cambridge. Not the college in Cambridge, but a small one founded by Greville Liddicote who wants his college to be devoted to the goal of peace in Europe. During the war he wrote a book about a group of children who go to the battlefield and ask their fathers to come home. That book led to some soldiers refusing to fight anymore. Maisie gets the job as a philosophy teacher (for which she is well qualified). Her 'real' job gets muddied a bit when there is a murder at the school and she begins sleuthing. For me the joy of a Maisie Dobbs book has little to do with the plot. It has everything to do with the time in history (post WWI) and Winspear's ability to remind us of the emotional results of a war that has been over for years. If this sounds like something that would appeal to you, I would strongly recommend that you begin with the first one of the series. (It is called Maisie Dobbs.

Kindred Spirits by Sarah Strohmeyer

2011-08-20T16:10:00.003-05:00

I really liked this book. It is a touching story about friendship. These friends belong to the Ladies Society for the Conservation of Martinis. Loosely translated that just means these four women discovered they had a common bond one night after a PTA meeting - and not just that they liked martinis! (By the way, there are lots of martini recipes given throughout the story.) There is always something special about the way a group of friends can create a safe zone where they can do all of their venting and celebrating. They think they know everything important there is to know about one another. Then the unthinkable happens. Lynn is diagnosed with cancer. She battles bravely for two years and then has had enough. The Ladies Society had a pact that if something happened to one of them, the others would go sort through her belongings. (I smiled at that because I had the same pact with two friends!). What they find will lead them to question if they ever really knew Lynn. And then it leads them on a journey to fulfill Lynn's last request of them. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline.

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman

2011-08-20T16:09:00.003-05:00

I listened to the audio book of Next to Love and really enjoyed it. It is a wonderful look at small town America during the Second World War and the way the War affected people for years to come. The story takes place in a small town in Massachusetts where Babe, Millie and Grace grew up. Now America is going to war and things are going to change quickly and forever. I thought Feldman did a great job of describing the atmosphere of the times. Naturally there is love and loss (of innocence and of men). The book continues through the years with these women and their families. America is changing and so are they. If you like to read things with an historical perspective, check out this book. I don't think you will be disappointed.

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

2011-08-20T08:56:00.002-05:00

When Lucy Hull, the childrens' librarian at the Hannibal Public Library, arrives at work one morning, she is surprised to find her favorite patron camped out there. Ten-year-old Ian Drake has run away from home. Concerned about him and his relationship with his parents, Lucy lets Ian talk her into taking him home - a drive that leads them from Missouri to Chicago to Pittsburgh and, finally, Vermont. Is Lucy a kidnapper? Or has she been kidnapped?

I will admit to misgivings in even ordering this book. Librarians suffer from such a weird stereotype that I wasn't sure I wanted to add "kidnapper" to the common lore. But universally good reviews finally convinced me.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and her description of Ian. I'm not sure that her description of his home life was convincing enough to make Lucy convinced she was in the right to run away with him. But I also think that Lucy knew that and her inner dialogue about what she was doing and how it was going to end (and where she was going to end up - in jail?) was part of what made the book interesting and kept my attention. And, really, what librarian or person who loves books and reading wouldn't enjoy all the literary references?

State of Wonder by Ann Pachett

2011-08-16T19:45:00.002-05:00

I read the book jacket of this book and didn't think I would really be interested in it. But I do like Pachett's books so I decided to take a chance. (Did you ever meet anyone braver than I am!). I actually listened to the audiobook and the reader did a great job. The story centers around a pharmaceutical company in Minnesota. They have a researcher, Dr. Swenson, who is studying a tribe in the Amazon jungle. The women in this tribe are having babies in their sixties and beyond. I don't know who would find that appealing but the company thinks there is big, big money for them if they can figure out why. Swenson has been down there for years with very little contact much to the dismay of the greedy company. So the company has sent Anders Eckman to check things out. Before Anders relays any useful information, word is sent that Anders has died of an illness. Now they send Dr. Marina Singh off to check on things for the company and see what she can find out about Ander's death at the request of his widow. I quickly became involved in the novel and enjoyed every minute of it. Complex characters, a geography and culture lesson, a bit of romance and of course......a mystery! What did happen to Anders and why won't Dr. Swenson call home????

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

2011-08-16T19:43:00.010-05:00

I am so hooked on Lisa See's books! If you loved Amy Tan's books but haven't tried See's, you need to rush to the library because you have a treat in store. My history background is lacking when it comes to China so I have been getting an education along with my entertainment. Dreams of Joy is a follow up book to Shanghai Girls. That was the story of Pearl and May two sisters who escaped from China (the Japanese were invading) and came to L.A. Now it is 20 years later and Pearl's daughter Joy has escaped L.A. (no invasion - she is just angry with her family, idealistic and really didn't think this all through) to go to Shanghai. She finds her biological father, a famous artist, and goes with him out in the countryside where he will be teaching people to draw. (Not people with talent, just people - part of Mao's Great Leap Forward.) Joy thinks it is all a wonderful idea, she is with her wonderful father, and falls in love with a wonderful guy. That is the first part of the book - after that it is not so wonderful. Pearl risks everything to return to China and bring her daughter home. It was a terrific book. I have learned more about China from this author than I ever did in school! Highly recommended - but read Shanghai Girls first!

Room by Emma Donoghue

2011-08-16T19:43:00.008-05:00

This book is really different! It is told from the voice of a five-year-old boy named Jack. It begins on his fifth birthday. Jack doesn't have a party like most five-year-old kids because his life is different. He has spent all five years of his life in one room. His mother has tried to make his life as normal as she can. From Jack's point of view she has been completely successful because he knows no other way of living. His mom does whatever she can to keep Jack's mind stimulated, his body healthy and his heart full of love. Eventually they are able to escape - but there is no way for Jack to escape the consequences of spending his whole life in one room. It is a fascinating book.

Escape by Barbara Delinsky

2011-08-16T19:05:00.002-05:00

I can't imagine that every woman has not thought of escaping her life at one time or another - even if only for a day. That is why it is easy for the reader to understand Emily and her 'escape'. She lives in Manhattan with her husband Tim. Well, 'live' might be a bit overstated. They reside there but as for living, there is not a lot of that. Both she and Tim are lawyers. Tim is hoping to become a partner in his law firm in a few months, so he has been working insane hours. Emily thought she would take her law degree and help victims of corporate greed/abuse. Part of it came true. She spends her days calling victims - but she is doing it to help the corporation, not the victims. And is she at least calling from a comfortable office? No. It's a cubicle. One day she has had it. She walks out of work, packs and drives away (in her husband's car that he is very fond of!). None of this was planned but she soon knows where she is headed. During college she spent a summer in New Hampshire. Before the invention of the cell phone I am sure it was much easier to escape. But Emily has to try and explain to her husband, to her boss and to her parents what she is doing - pretty tough because she doesn't know what she is doing! An entertaining book.

10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

2011-08-16T19:02:00.002-05:00

This is the tenth (in case you missed that reference in the title) book in the Women's Murder Club series. I don't read many of Patterson's anymore but I never miss a book in this series. For those who are not familiar with the members of this club, they are Detective Lindsay (who has just gotten married), Assistant D.A. Yuki Castellano and Cindy, a newswoman (whose last name I can not remember!). Lindsay is investigating the case of a teenager who was left for dead. She has a newborn baby who is missing. Yuki is prosecuting a woman who (alledgedly!) murdered her husband. She is under a lot of pressure to win a convinction. As always, it is fun to read about the interaction between the friends as they try to solve crime.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

2011-08-16T18:31:00.003-05:00

Hannah writes good books and this one is no exception. Like the book I blogged about previously, this is another cautionary tale - this time it is about teens and drinking. The book opens with an introduction about Lexi, the daughter of a drugged-out mother. She has been in and out of foster homes for years. Her life changes when her social worker tells her that she has great news - Lexi does have a living relative even though her mom always said there was no one. It is her great aunt, Eva. Although Eva lives in a trailer with not much money, she welcomes Lexi into her home and gives her the love that Lexi has always craved. Her first day of school (high school) is scary, but she has been in this situation many times before. Feeling the rejection in the lunchroom she heads outside and sees a girl sitting by herself. When she approaches her, the girl (Mia) warns Lexi that to be seen with her is 'social suicide'. Immediately the two bond and Mia takes Lexi home to meet her family. Mia's dad is a doctor, her twin brother Zach is the heart-throb in town and her mom, Jude, is mother-of-the-year material. Over the next few years Lexi becomes an integral part of the family. Until one tragic night. The characters are likable and believable. It is a story of love, despair and forgiveness. It's a good one - don't miss it!

This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman

2011-08-16T17:50:00.002-05:00

The Bergamots are a normal middle-class family in the process of transitioning to a different life. They have left a small college town to move to New York City. It is a great career move for Richard. His wife Liz has given up her academic life to see that the children get settled in. Jake is 15 and although he was nervous about finding friends, he has landed in a group at his private school. Coco is the six-year-old whom they adopted from Chinese. One of her new friends is having a birthday night at the Plaza Hotel (with mothers invited!). Jake is off that night to his own party. It is not chaperoned and things are a bit wild. Daisy, an eighth-grader, finds Jake attractive and makes some advances. Jake tells her she is too young and thinks that is the end of it. But the next morning he receives an email with an attachment from Daisy that is rated XXX. He should have deleted it but instead he forwards it to his friend Henry. Henry calls Jake immediately but it goes to voice mail before he can answer. By the time he retrieves the message from Henry, it has been forwarded on, and on and on. This is the story of how social media can ruin lives in the blink of an eye. It is a horror story if you have kids who have access to computers. I don't, but I still found it to be very scary.

The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs by Christina Hopkinson

2011-08-16T16:43:00.003-05:00

If you have ever lived with someone as an adult, whether it be a spouse,a significant other or a roommate, you will identify with this book. Mary Gilmour is going through a rough patch in life - nothing catastrophic, just that she has two young sons and her husband is driving her crazy. You have probably seen these crimes in your own home. Perhaps you have even committed them from time to time! Some examples: Joel leaves used tea bags in the sink instead of tossing them. Joel can't find anything in the fridge by himself. If you reread the title of the book you will learn of another transgression! One night Mary gets the brilliant idea of making a spreadsheet based on her husband's actions for the next six months. He can earn or lose points according to what he has done that day. Of course Joel knows nothing about it! The burning question is - what will happen at the end of that time? A very entertaining book and one that everyone should enjoy!

GUINEA PI(G): Pet Shop Private Eye (Series)

2011-08-09T19:48:00.007-05:00

Guinea PI(G): Pet Shop Private Eye graphic novel series is a new on the scene. We currently have books 1-4 in this series (I have read them all) and they were so surprisingly fun to read, that I had to recommend them! The cartoons are fun, cute, and interesting to look at, and the story lines are so funny. Every animal in the shop has such great personalities, you can't help but love every goofy character. The kid in me just adores these books, and I think kids of all ages who are looking for a good laugh will love them too.

Hamster and Cheese: This is the first book in the series where we meet the main characters Sasspants PI(G), a very smart and creative guinea pig, and Hamisher, a wanna-be side kick and hyper hamster. They, and the other animals, live in Mr. Venezi's pet shop. Unfortunately for the pets, Mr. Venezie knows nothing about animals, and is constantly mislabeling them (for example: he labeled the hamsters as 'koalas'), feeding them the wrong food, and putting them in the wrong cagest. That's enough for the pets to deal with already, but now there's a sandwich thief in their midst. Hamisher thinks she is a PI (private investigator) since her cage label says Guinea Pi (but in actuality the G has just fallen off). So, he asks her to investigate, and after some convincing she agrees and together they take on the mystery of the serial Sandwich-Napper

And Then There Were Gnomes: In second book we meet up with Sasspants and Hamisher again. Hamisher is ready for another mystery and is dying to be side kick to Sasspants, but Sasspants has no intention of continuing to be a private eye... one time was enough! But soon enough, Hamisher notices that all the mice are disappearing and the other pets in the shop start to worry. When Sasspants wont help him, Hamisher decides to take on the case himself. Will Hamisher be able to solve this case on his own, or will the case of the missing mice go unsolved?

The Ferret's a Foot: The third book in this series begins with Mr. Venenzi hanging up a help wanted sign. Poor Mr. Venenzi really doesn't know much about the animals, but what if the new person isn't nice? So Sasspants and Hamisher volunteer to help out Mr. Venenzi and make new signs for the animal cages with little pictures of the animals on them. Then Mr. Venenzi won't have to hire any one! Soon, however, something is amiss.... all the signs have been changed! The Lizards were now Blizards and the Chinchillas were Gorillas! Every one suspects the new ferrets, but it's up to Sasspants and Hamisher to discover the truth behind this mystery.

Fish You Were Here: The fourth book begins with Mr. Venenzi interviewing potential employees. He's already turned away so many nice sounding people, the pets are starting to wonder if they will be lucky enough to get some one who actually knows what they're doing! Then Viola comes in, friendly and knowledgeable about the animals. Mr. Venenzi hires her on the spot. She is perfect for the job and is takes over all the care for the pets... so well that Mr. Venenzi becomes depressed and feels like he isn't needed any more. Then, one day, Mr. Venenzi doesn't come in at all! Suddenly, Viola starts neglecting the animals and sits at the desk watching TV all day. They animals panic... what happened to Mr. Venenzi? Will he ever come back? Sasspants is determined to find out what happened to Mr. Venenzi, but even if they find out where he is... will it be too late?

Maine by Courtney Sullivan

2011-08-03T16:40:00.002-05:00

Can I just say that I want a beach house in Maine. And then I want to sit there and read the third novel that Ms. Sullivan is certainly working on by now! So you have probably figured out that I really liked this book and that it takes place in a beach house in Maine! A multi-generational group of women who are mothers and daughters are all in this beach house one summer. You can guess that already there will be tension and at least a few fireworks. Alice Kelleher is the matriarch of the family - but she is not the warm fuzzy type. She is not very likable but as the story progressed and I learned about her background, I forgave her......a little anyway. Near the main house where Alice spends several months of the year, is a cottage which is occupied by the families of her three children. The schedule has been set by daughter-in-law Ann Marie who is happiest when she is keeping everything organized and running on her schedule. Her schedule did not include the surprise arrival of her niece, Maggie who has run to the beach to decide her future (before she could tell her boyfriend that she was pregnant they had a fight and he broke up with her). So then Maggie's mom, Kathleen, leaves her partner and worm farm to fly across the country to talk face-to-face with her daughter. There is a lot of drinking and church-going happening - is that a contradiction???? Bottom line is this is a great book!!! Check it out - we have both the book and the audio book.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

2011-07-29T12:37:00.001-05:00

I started reading this one at the end of June - right after finishing Blood Song... Finished it on 7/14/11, it's taken me some time to get to writing this blog. A little over 2 weeks to read, is really good for me (typical books take 3-4 weeks).

Richard attends a dinner with an old professor Reg, his boss Gordon gets murdered, an Electric Monk believes the Door is the Way and Dirk Gently throws himself into the middle of it all!

This book jumps around a lot, which was confusing at first, but made so much sense once more information was given toward the end (can't tell you without spoiling the story of course!). I have not read his Hitch Hickers Guide series yet, although it is on my "list" to read. So my opinions of this book are based solely on this book alone. It was a very good storyline, however it was hard to follow at first. Now that I know the end, I may re-read it and see if the parts that made absolutely no sense the first time around will make sense now!

Douglas Adams is a classic science fiction author... if you enjoy science fiction books, his name should definitely be on your list!

Overbite: by Meg Cabot

2011-07-27T18:03:00.008-05:00

This book is the sequel to Insatiable (an excellent read, I might add). Overbite continues the story of Meena Harper, a psychic who can predict when and how people are going to die. At the end of Insatiable Meena is hired by the Palatine Guard- a powerful, secret demon hunting unit of the Vatican. Now we see her using her powers to help prevent the deaths of the brave men and women who put their lives at risk to hunt and kill demons. Not to mention, all this access to tons of information she would never have normall had, is helping Meena to prove her theory: just because demons have lost their souls, doesn't mean they've lost the good inside of them.
However, not all is as well as Meena had hoped it would be. Her now ex-boyfriend Lucien Antonescu (aka Dracula, aka Prince of Darkness) shows up again when he saves her life from an unexpected attack. Meena's emotions are already mixed up enough, but seeing him again makes things so much worse. Not to mention Lucien seems more vulnerable than ever; but in reality he is more determined than ever to take control of his conflicting emotions about what he is, and finally make Meena his.
After the attempt on her life, Meena is put under constant surveillance. In other words Alaric Wulf, her crazy-about-hunting-and-killing-demons partner, is now at her side 24/7. A nuisance, but one that Meena discovers she doesn't mind so much, since they've recently discovered that a large number of tourists have gone missing.
In light of this, the Palatine has brought in Father Henrique (or Padre Caliente, as Alaric likes to refer to him as). Soon, Meena and Alaric are thrown into a situation they never could have predicted, and Lucien is the only one who can save them.
Unfortunately I did not like this book as much as the first book (and let me tell you, I loved the first book). There was so much humor in Insatiable that was missing from Overbite. None of the characters are the same either, and I feel like the author didn't do a good enough job leading me to understand why they had changed so much. However, there are some great plot twists in the book that I could have never guessed, and that is what kept me intrigued.

The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan

2011-07-26T18:39:00.002-05:00

Marissa and Julia have been friends since they were teens. Marissa is the submissive one in the friendship. Julia has always been more out-going and often tries to run Julia's life - including 'making' her break up with her boyfriend Nathan years ago. Today the friends both live in NYC. Marissa is doing well as a senior editor at a magazine (although she is a little tired of all the weight-loss articles that have to be done month after month). Julia is in the ballet. Although they no longer share an apartment, they stay in very close contact. One night Marissa has left work on time to make it the restaurant where she is meeting Julia. But of course Julia is late - as always. Marissa is irritated by this rudeness and fantasizes about leaving when she sees the familiar face headed towards her. That is when the taxi hits Julia. Julia survives the accident but she suffers a brain injury. I learned a bit about how the brain reacts to a trauma and a lot about what a friendship means. It was a good read and I didn't need any Kleenex to get through it!

The Art of Saying Goodbye by Ellyn Bache

2011-07-26T18:10:00.002-05:00

Summer must be the season of sentimental books. This is the story of a neighborhood and the women who live there. They vary in ages and background. What they all have in common is their relationship to Paisley. Throughout the book we learn of secrets and how Paisley has affected the lives of each of these women. In order to get back to her tennis game Paisley is having some elective foot surgery. At the clinic it is Paisley's neighbor Julianne doing the pre-op check-in for her. When Julianne touches Paisley she knows immediately that something is wrong - her psychic ability tells her it is serious. With a diagnosis of pancreatic and liver cancer Paisley doesn't have long to live. During the next three months this group of women will try to give back to Paisley some of which she gave to them. Touching and heart-breaking.

One Summer by David Baldacci

2011-07-26T17:18:00.002-05:00

Baldacci writes great mysteries. He also knows how to step out of that role and delivery something completely different. (Skipping Christmas was a great book!). This time he gives us a tear-jerker. Jack is married to the love of his life. As he served his country in the Middle East, Lizzie raised their two sons and one daughter. When he came back he started a construction company and life is good. You know what is coming next, don't you! Yes, Jack is diagnosed with a terminal illness. His goal is to make it through Christmas. He spends his waning strength writing letters to Lizzie so that she will know how much he loves her. Are you tearing up yet? By page 25 there is a tragic accident......... If you feel like a good cry then check out this book!

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

2011-07-23T13:25:00.002-05:00

I read Ms. Stevens' debut novel and really liked it. This one I loved!!! Sara was adopted as a baby. Her parents then had two daughters "of their own". It didn't seem to make much difference to her mom that she wasn't a biological daughter, but dad didn't always treat her nicely. Still Sara has grown up to be a rather normal and fairly lucky woman. She has a 6 yr.old daughter and is engaged to a really nice guy. She has always wondered about her biological parents, and when she has a chance to open her adoption record she is anxious to do so. She finds out her bio-mom's name and contacts her. The phone call is not well received. Sara can't let it go so she does some more sleuthing. She finds out that her bio-mom is not living under her real name. She was the one victim that got away from a serial killer. When Sara investigates on the internet, she realizes that she is most likely the daughter of that serial killer - and he is still out there. Oh yeah, this book was really on-the-edge-of-your-seat good! The characters were believable and interesting - if not always likable! If you like crime books you have to read this one!

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

2011-07-23T12:36:00.003-05:00

I listened to the audio book which was excellent. However, if you are reading the book, please read the end of the book where Ms. Simon explains where she got the idea for this book. It is a story that spans for decades. Lynnie is a special needs child back in the day when people were encouraged to send such children to institutions. And that is what happened to her. It is a terrible place to live. The one shining spot is when she meets an African American deaf man, Homan, and they fall in love. The book opens in 1968. Homan and Lynnie have run away and during a rainstorm land on the front porch of Martha - widow and retired schoolteacher. She brings the couple into the house and realizes that Lynnie has a newborn baby. Martha sends them upstairs to change into dry clothes. The authorities from the "School" are banging on Martha's door and she has no choice but to let them in. Homan is able to escape but Lynnie is caught. The authorities have no idea that there is a baby lying upstairs. As Lynnie is taken away she is able to communicate two words to Martha - Hide her. It was a fascinating story - but also heart-wrenching to know that people were living in such conditions. Read or listen to it - I don't think you will be disappointed.

Best Staged Plans by Claire Cook

2011-07-23T11:34:00.002-05:00

"Okay, so I accidentally wrapped my reading glasses in one of the packages I mailed." Thus begins this book. Do you find this statement to be unbelievable or just an ordinary event? If it is the latter, then this book is for you. The story is actually about home stager Sandy who is trying to light a fire under her husband to help her get their own house cleared out so that they can downsize. This includes getting her grown-up son out of their basement (or the "bat cave"). It is not going well. So when she has a chance to go work on a hotel in Atlanta and stay with her newly married daughter, she decides to take it. The storyline is okay. What I loved in this book was the writing - almost every page found me laughing out loud or at least brought a smile to my face. The part where she is going through sentimental things in the cupboards is priceless. She calls her daughter Shannon to see if she would be interested in the Danish modern stainless trays (wedding gift!). Shannon's reply : "I don't know. would you want me to have them if I were a client? Or is it purely sentimental, and you just don't want to be the one to dump them?". There were many relatable moments. I think this is a book I will want to reread in a couple of years!

The Coffins of Little Hope

2011-07-14T09:51:00.003-05:00

In The Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schaffert, 83-year-old Essie Myles is the obituary writer for her family’s small-town newspaper, run by her grandson Doc. Essie and Doc find themselves in the biggest story of their lives when a local girl is kidnapped by a traveling aeriel photographer. Or is it a hoax made up by Daisy, the missing girl’s lonely mother?

As Essie tries to get the real story from Daisy, another big story rocks the town when it’s discovered that Doc’s printing press is secretly printing the final book in the wildly popular gothic YA series (think Series of Unfortunate Events).

When Daisy begins reading chapters of the much anticipated (and unreleased) book over a CB radio every night, Doc and Essie must find a way to get the book back. Or is it really a bootlegged copy or just something Daisy has made up?

Yet the real pleasure in reading The Coffins of Little Hope is not in solving these mysteries but in enjoying the narrative voice of Essie. Eccentric and a bit of a curmudgeon, she is interesting and engaging and one of the best characters I've read in years. The supporting characters are also enjoyable, especially Essie's great-granddaughter Tiffany. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to those looking for a well-written character story.

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

2011-07-06T10:04:00.002-05:00

The sisters in this story are Tess and Bee. Tess, the younger, is a free-spirited artist living in London. Bee is much more conservative. She left London and is living in the U.S. with her fiance. When their mother calls Bee to alert her that Tess is missing, Bee immediately returns home to look for her sister. When Tess's body is found the police say it is suicide. She had drugs in her and she had given birth to a baby who died. Tess had planned to be in London for the birth of the baby who wasn't due for another three weeks. Tess refuses to accept this pronouncement of suicide and begins her own investigation. One thing I really liked about the book is the way it is written. It is told in the voice of Bee speaking directly to her dead sister. I enjoyed it.

Twenty Thirty by Albert Brooks

2011-07-05T18:18:00.004-05:00

In the 60's I read the book 1984. I remember being disturbed a bit that life might change so much in 20 years. Mostly I thought it was just the rambling thoughts of someone with a vivid imagination. This book really, really scared me - because the way things are going in this country, I could see most of this actually happening. Cancer has been cured. That's great Medicines have been developed that make the "elderly" feel better than they did twenty years before. That's great. The problem now is that everyone is living a long, long time. If someone becomes incapacitated he is put on life-support forever unless it is determined that there is no brain activity. Why? It is immoral to "kill" anyone. And besides, there are companies who are making a lot of money keeping those machines going. ( I am sure that is only a secondary consideration.) Who is paying for all of this? Not the government, who can barely afford to pay our national interest. It is the young. Yes the young, who will never know the American dream because they can barely make it - all that 'health' care for the old ones is expensive. They are mad and some of them aren't taking it anymore! Throw in the "big one" hitting L.A. and you have a lot of action going on. It was definitely thought provoking - an interesting book.

Blood Song by Cat Adams

2011-06-28T19:43:00.001-05:00

Celia Graves is a professional body guard. While on a job she is attacked by a group of vampires... she manages to kill one, and injure others before she passes out. When she wakes she has no memory of what happened. She was bitten by one of them, but did not turn, however she was changed. She now has fangs, is stronger and faster than she was before but she is also more "sensitive" to the sun... she can still go out it in, but needs super sun screen, an umbrella or a big floppy hat... oh and she can not eat solid foods now, she has to drink her food.
She is being hunted by her sire, the vampire who bit her, so he can finish her off by either changing her completely or killing her, as well as a demon. Teaming up with some friends she starts hunting both.

Throughout the story there are side plots and stories but in the end they are all tied together. A very good read, and I've ordered the next two in the series so that I can read more about Celia Graves! If you want a vampire book where the vampire doesn't sparkle, but needs a stake in the heart, holy water squirted at or beheaded, this is the book for you.

the Best Advice I Ever Got by Katie Couric 646.7 Cou

2011-06-21T18:32:00.002-05:00

The sub-title for this book is Lessons from Extraordinary Lives. So a little bit of this book is about the advice Katie received, but most of it is a compilation of replies from a wide variety of people - politicians, actors, singers, athletes, authors and anyone else who is famous. The length of the advice varied widely - as did my interest in what they had to say! I really love audio books but I should have checked out the paper version instead. When people I "know" are talking in this book, I want the real person! I know what their voices sound like and I didn't care for having a random person doing the speaking. It was a so-so book. If you are young and want advice maybe you should check it out. Or you can take my advice ......I'm not using it.

At Home with the Templetons by Monica McInerney

2011-06-20T20:07:00.005-05:00

I have enjoyed McInerney's previous books and I wasn't disappointed in this one either. On the back of the book someone had called McInerney "Australia's answer to Maeve Binchy". So now I know why I enjoyed it! This is the story of two families over a couple of decades. As you may well have guessed, the Templetons are one of the families! Henry and Eleanor Templeton, along with their four children, have moved from England to Australia to take over a manor house that was Henry's inheritance. To pay for the improvements and upkeep, they open the house to the public and given tours while they are wearing period clothing. Everyone thinks they are a bit weird. Their only son, Spencer is not happy living in the country with only his sisters. One day he meets Tom, who has recently moved with his widowed mother into a rental down the road. The lives of these two families becomes entwined - the good, the bad and sometimes the downright ugly (not everyone is telling the truth in this book!) Great read

The Bone House by Brian Freeman

2011-06-18T15:39:00.002-05:00

This is a mystery, but the Bone House is actually a house that is owned by the Bone family, not a house full of bones! Still it is a good mystery. Mark Bradley is a teacher - well he was until he was accused of an affair with a student. He and his wife, Hilary, stay in their little town because she is still teaching there. To escape from the scrutiny of the town, they spend spring break at the beach. Hilary is a dance coach and some of her former students are competing there. The night before they are to leave, Mark can't sleep and so he goes for a walk on the beach. Bad idea! He runs into a girl who is later found murdered. Although he is under suspicion, he is allowed to go home. Hilary is determined to prove that her husband had nothing to do with the crime. To do that she ends up trying to find out about a crime that was committed many years ago. Interesting book but not too taxing for the brain. Perfect for summer!

Faith by Jennifer Haigh

2011-06-08T16:06:00.003-05:00

Another good book - I am on a roll! This one takes place in Boston in 2002. The Catholic Church is reeling from priests being accused of the unthinkable. This is the story of Father Art who is caught up in one such situation. The story is told from the point of view of his sister, Shelia. She has been fairly removed from her family for many years with the exception of Art. Now she comes to his defense and will do anything to clear his name. Their mother is angry and embarrassed and brother Mike is not so quick to believe in his brother's innocence. Father Art has a difficult time being out in the real world in a real apartment. The story is less about the accusation than it is about the characters. There is some mystery in Art's life and Shelia has to put the pieces together to understand everything.

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore

2011-06-08T12:11:00.002-05:00

Moore is certainly a qualified writer, but this is her first novel. I hope she is hard at work on her second one, because I really enjoyed this one! It starts out with a brief introduction to Ginny and William, a retired couple who are enjoying this phase of their lives. Summer has arrived and the living is easy. And then it begins..... One daughter and two children, one son with his pregnant wife and finally the youngest... they all end up back at home!! I know, it sounds like a horror book doesn't it! So for Ginny and William the summer turned from calm and organized to crazy and chaotic. This isn't a book about a dysfunctional family - it is just a book about a normal family with normal problems. It's a great summer read. Check it out!

Time Weaver by Shana Abe

2011-06-07T19:52:00.004-05:00

Mid May I made a decision to start reading all the books in the Science Fiction section at Indianola Public Library (with a few exceptions). The very first book I grabbed was this one: Time Weaver by Shana Abe. About 80 or so pages into this book I found out that it is the 5th book in the series, but since I was drawn into it so much I decided to read it without the knowledge of the previous 4 books. I was not disappointed!
Honor Carlisle is part of the "English" clan of the drakon, and can weave through time - transporting herself through time to the future or past. Her very first weave takes her to a river where she meets Prince Alexandru of the Zaharen clan. He saves her from drowning and she weaves back to her natural time. Each successive weave takes her to Alexandru (Sandu for short), and which also brings her to falling in love with him.
The story is about their love growing over different time-lines and we are crossing our fingers that their love is strong enough to last through the trials they are put through.
I know I've missed out on some background stories from not reading the previous books, but I don't think this book needs to be read as part of the series, it was a terrific read as a stand alone. I will definitely add Shana Abe to my reading list!

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

2011-06-01T14:24:00.003-05:00

Ginny is a young woman with Asperger's who has lived a sheltered life with her parents. Her sister Amanda is married and has two daughters. Ginny's passion is cooking and she is very good at it. Ginny has her quirks but she manages fairly well. Her parents have left her alone while they go on a vacation. A housekeeper comes once a week to clean and pick up her grocery list. Ginny's world is sent spinning out of control when her parents die in a freak accident. Amanda assumes that the house will be sold and Ginny will move in with Amanda's family. Ginny, however, is not on the same page. She does not want to leave her home. When she is upset she cooks. This time she tackles a recipe written out by her mother. When the aroma fills the kitchen, her dead mother appears to her! Somehow it doesn't come off that weird in the book! And that conversations leads to a bit of a mystery. I really enjoyed the book..... magic included!

In The Garden of Beasts

2011-06-01T09:21:00.004-05:00

Erik Larson's In The Garden of Beasts is the true account of William Dodd's experience as the US Ambassador to Germany from 1933-37. Sounds like pretty dry stuff ... until you imagine what Berlin must have been like in these years as the Nazi party came into power.

And add to this violable mix the beautiful daughter of the US ambassador who fancies herself a writer but really is just a connoisseur of witty parties and dangerous men - particularly handsome men of the Third Reich.

It is truly a case of the innocents abroad. Dodd was a history professor who is clearly over his head when he is appointed to Berlin and imagines that he can stand as a lone beacon of liberal US ideals and influence the rising Nazi party. Martha just wants to have fun.

Things start innocuously with Dodd and his wife making the ambassadorial rounds and Martha enjoying the salon gatherings and the charms of German men - including an affair with the head of the Gestapo. But as the family begins to witness the darker side of Germany as Hitler's power accumulates, it becomes harder for them to ignore the signs of something darker (although Martha does a fine job of blissful avoidance until the end).

What is most striking about In the Garden of Beasts is the naivety of Dodd and his family's ignorance of the danger they were in, especially Martha. They maintained the belief that they were dealing with rational people who wanted to preserve peace and that their status as an ambassador family would protect them. It finally took "the Night of the Long Knives" to jar them out of their complacency.

I found this book to be a fascinating historical account and highly recommend it.

The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentleman Farmers by Josh Kilmer-Purcell

2011-05-31T09:49:00.002-05:00

On the way home from their annual apple-picking weekend, the author and his partner stumble upon the 200-year-old-plus Beekman Mansion in upstate New York. Instantly smitten, they decide to buy it. And then starts their adventure of living in the city, commuting on the weekends, working to make their new purchase financially feasible, and trying to keep their relationship going.

They try everything - raising goats and using the milk to make goat milk soap, raising and selling heritage vegetables, starting a web site. And then the economic crash of 2008 hits and they are suddenly both without jobs, carrying two mortgages, and not sure what to do.

I will admit that I read this book because I had to (for a book club) and ended up finishing it because I wanted to. At one point, I laughed until I cried over their adventures. I cringed at some of the descriptions of life on a farm and worried along with them at the thought they might not be able to keep it. It was a fun easy read and I enjoyed it a lot.

The Long Goodbye by Meghan O’Rourke 155.93

2011-05-24T19:29:00.002-05:00

The Long Goodbye by Meghan O’Rourke 155.93

Warning – this book is on the depressing side! It is, however, very well written.The book begins with the death of Meghan’s 55 year-old mother, who died of cancer on Christmas day in 2008. (It’s depressing already, isn’t it.) Meghan writes, “Nothing prepared me for the loss of my mother. Even knowing that she would die did not prepare me.” I think most people feel this way, but she expresses it more eloquently than most of us! She tells her story of when she was a little girl, when her mom was dying and when she faced life without her mom. If you have been through this experience, you will recognize many parts of Meghan’s journey. If you haven’t had to face this yet……well, maybe you don’t want to know just yet……because as O'Rourke says, “Nothing prepares you for the loss of a mother".

Save Me by Lisa Scottoline

2011-05-24T18:33:00.004-05:00

I have read most of Scottoline's mystery books and her non-fiction and have loved them all. This one is different from her others because it is not focused on lawyers. It was a great read! It will, however, make you think twice about volunteering for anything!
Rose McKenna has volunteered to be a lunchroom mom at her daughter's school. Rose's family is new in town and she wants to make a good impression and also make sure her daughter Melly is not being teased about her birthmark. She finds out that Melly has spent many a lunch hour hiding in the restroom. On this day she hears two girls saying something that sends Melly into hiding once again. She asks them to stay for a minute after everyone else runs out of the cafeteria for recess so that she can have a talk with them. And then there is a terrible explosion with smoke and flames. Rose has to make a split-second decision. Does she help these two girls before searching for her own daughter? Her impulse is to rush to Melly, but she can't leave the two girls. So she sees them to safety first. She is a hero! That is before she became the target of a civil suit and also criminal charges. It was a great book!!!!!!!!

Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson

2011-05-24T18:04:00.004-05:00

As always Davidson has brought us an entertaining mystery filled with delicious recipes! If you aren't familiar with this series, here is a little background. Goldy is a caterer. She was married to an abusive husband (called The Jerk by Goldy and his other ex-wife) with whom she had a son named Arch. After her divorce she became involved i n a murder investigation. Fortunately the detective involved, Tom, also became involved with her and they have been happily married for several years. Goldy is a great woman but she always seems to be connected somehow to people who are killed!
In this book there is murder, arson, robbery and worse of all.....a puppy mill. Her books are lighthearted (even with all of the crime!).

I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark

2011-05-24T17:35:00.003-05:00

I always enjoy reading Clark's books! One of the fears we face in the 21st century is identity theft and now it has happened to Zan. She has a promising career as an interior designer in NYC - but that is compromised when she finds someone is using her credit cards and messing with her bank accounts. She is worried that her reputation will be ruined. That would be bad enough but things are about to get worse. Her son, Matthew, was kidnapped two years ago when he was at the park with a babysitter who fell asleep. Now on Matthew's fifth birthday a photo is found that shows the kidnapper - but it looks like Zan. She knows she is innocent - or else she is deeply disturbed. She has to fight to clear her name and find out what happened to her son.
Zan gets some help from Alvirah , the lottery winner and amateur detective from a previous book. Mary Higgins Clark - always a good read!

Deceptions by Rebecca Frayn

2011-05-24T16:48:00.003-05:00

I enjoyed this mystery. The plot has been seen before, but it was a quick read and I liked the characterizations. Annie is a young widow raising her 12 year old son, Dan, and 7-year-old daughter, Rachel. She has become involved with Julian and they are in love. Things are not without stress because they have some different ideas on things - including housekeeping. (She is the slob.) They have decided to take the next step and get married. Rachel is thrilled because she adores Julian. Dan - well, not so much. It's hard to tell if it is because he is a teen or because he doesn't want this man to take his father's place. Shortly after they make the announcement Dan fails to return home from school. The police do a thorough investigation but can find no clues. Deep down Julian thinks that they will never know what happened. Annie, however, can not let go of her hope. Their marriage plans are put on hold. And then one day Annie receives the call that she has been waiting for. Dan returns to her - but now he is 15 and oh so different.

Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee

2011-05-16T09:23:00.002-05:00

On his way to tell his wife, Emily, that he wants a divorce, Sandy Portman is hit by a car and killed. When he pleads for a second chance, he is given it - but in a dog's body named Einstein.

Emily thought their life was good. Oh sure, there were problems but what marriage doesn't have them? Sandy's funeral is hardly over when she learns she is about to be evicted from the apartment they shared. Only the love and support she receives from her adopted dog, Einstein, get her through the next months and all the revelations about her life with Sandy that come out.

Can Einstein right all the wrongs done to Emily by Sandy? Will Emily come to terms with her life and her past? I suppose the answer is "Do fish swim?" But I liked the characters in this book a lot and enjoyed the New York setting. Particularly interesting to me were the references to publishing and the book industry with some inside references that made me laugh out loud. And Emily's route to forgiveness and acceptance isn't necessarily a smooth one so I kept turning the pages to find out how it would end.

Visit from the Goon Squad

2011-05-09T15:00:00.004-05:00

Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad recently won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2011 National Book Critics Circle Award. That sentence alone probably caused many of you to decide not to read it.

What is it about books that win the big literary awards that makes so many of us reluctant to read them? Well, for me I'd say that they're often very clever but not particularly enjoyable to read. Does this hold true for A Visit from the Good Squad? Yes and no.

A Visit from the Goon Squad is a collection of interconnected short stories that, taken as a whole, tell a compelling narrative of a group of characters in the music business. The stories switch between characters, time frames, and locales. The style and tone varies (including one remarkable chapter told entirely in powerpoint slides).

The plot is secondary to character development -- which is interesting, to say the least. A minor character in one chapter could appear as a main character in another chapter and what appears to be an insignificant action in one chapter turns out to be important in another.

While I think this book certainly earned its awards, it's not a book I enjoyed reading. Perhaps because the reader doesn't get to know any single character well, it's hard to connect enough to any of them to care what happens to them. There's a thread of melancholy that runs through each chapter which quickly becomes tiresome. That said, it is the most creative book I've read in a long time and I suggest giving it a try.

Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom

2011-05-07T16:34:00.002-05:00

Piet Hoffman is an undercover operator for the Stockholm police department working on infiltrating the Polish mafia. When the mafia explains to him their plans for taking over the drug market in Swedish prisons, Hoffman is the one they turn to. At the same time, Ewert Grens, an old-time investigator with the police department, has all of his energies focused on solving a murder case. In the course of solving it, he runs across the name of Piet Hoffman...and things go downhill from there. When Piet finds his identity in prison compromised, he knows that the difference between life and death is three seconds.

That description barely does this novel justice. Swedish authors seem to write grittier, more realistic novels than others. I started this book and raced my way through all 485 pages. The action is fast, the characters complex and dangerous, and the ending not quite a given. If you like the Stieg Larsson books, you'll love this one.

One Hundred Names For Love by Diane Ackerman 616.8 Ack

2011-05-04T10:35:00.002-05:00

This is a true love story! Diane and her husband, Paul West, have a wonderful marriage. A big part of it is their shared love of words since both are writers. Paul had been through more than one health crisis, beginning 20 years ago when he was 55. Diane was always at his side and his biggest cheerleader. She found herself in the same position when he was hospitalized with kidney stones and an infection. He was scheduled to be released soon and they assumed their life would quickly go back to its familiar rhythm. But that wasn't going to happen. Paul suffered a major stroke and life would never be quite the same. This is the story of how a man of words was struck dumb and had to fight his way back. It is also the story of the woman who was by his side and working hard, even though she is in just as much pain. It is a touching story and I also learned a lot about recovery from strokes. Particularly touching was Paul's description of the stroke from his point of view.

The Reversal by Michael Connelly

2011-05-03T18:56:00.003-05:00

The Reversal includes characters from previous books by this author. I didn't know that when I began this book and I don't think it really mattered! It was a well-written mystery. Mickey Haller is a defense attorney except for this one time! He is persuaded to be a special prosecutor in a case involving Jason Jessup. Jessup has been in jail for 24 years after being convicted of killing a child. Based on DNA evidence Jessup is granted a new trial. The State is so certain that Jessup is guilty they are willing to foot the bill for a new trial. Mickey says he will do it if he can use his own investigator and choose his second chair (who happens to be his ex-wife). This book is part investigation and part trial. It was intriguing and well-paced.

Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb

2011-04-26T18:46:00.002-05:00

I really, really enjoyed reading this book! It was filled with wacky characters that I found sympathetic and endearing. So you know that Henry has sisters. He has three of them. Isabelle is a photographer by trade and a promiscuous woman by choice. Her (fraternal) twin Cecilia weighs almost 400 pounds, teaches kindergarten and has two daughters and a soon-to-be ex-husband. Janie is a bestselling author of murder mysteries. She writes them while living a reclusive life on a houseboat - and she suffers from OCD. Cecilia lives close to their mother River and is always trying to help despite her mother's continuous harping about her weight. Janis and Isabelle stay as far away as possible. When River is told that she must have heart surgery, it is imperative that Janis and Isabelle come to the house and stay until River can come home. Why? you might ask. Well, also living with River is her mother, who believes that she is Amelia Earhart and Henry, who, though mentally disabled has a personality that brings joy to everyone who meets him. And did I mention the bakery that needs to be run also?! They are an interesting family with an interesting past.

The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen

2011-04-23T11:26:00.003-05:00

This is a debut novel and I thought it was very well done! The sisters are Milly and Twiss. They earned that name because they have spent their lives tending to wounded birds. They are two old spinsters who live in the house in which they grew up. Most of the book is a flashback to these sisters as young girls. Their mother came from a wealthy family but was disowned when she married for love. Their father was a golf-pro and loved rubbing elbows with the country club elites. Love ebbs away over the years to the point that their parents didn't even share the same bedroom. In 1947 the course of this family's life was changed forever. It was that summer that their father was in an accident that changed his golf swing and sent him spiraling into a deep depression. It was also the summer that Milly fell in love and cousin Bett comes to visit for the summer. I really enjoyed how the author unfolded this story. It involves love, deception, loyalty and loss. Check it out!

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

2011-04-23T10:12:00.003-05:00

Now this was a great feel-good book! It is set in the small town of Avalon near Chicago. As in all towns, there are people dealing with the challenges of life. Julia lives with her daughter, Gracie, and husband, but she really isn't living. A tragedy several years earlier has left her struggling to get through every day. One day Julia arrives home with Gracie and finds a loaf of Amish Friendship Bread on the porch. Chances are you know about Friendship Bread. It comes with a bag of starter that you care for and add to. At the end of 10 days you have extra starter that you are supposed to pass on to friends. Julia thought the bread looked great but the starter was headed to the garbage until Gracie stopped her. So they took care of the starter and then had to find someone to give it to at the end. This story is about how that bread took over the town, brought people together, healed wounds, fed the flood victims......get the idea? I told you it was a feel-good book! I enjoyed the characters and their stories.

Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan

2011-04-21T19:35:00.001-05:00

Last month I blogged about the book Wish You Were Here. That was the story of a family spending their last summer at the lake house after Emily lost her husband. We are introduced to Emily's two grown children and her grandchildren. This book picks up the story several years later. Her main companion is her sister-in-law Arlene. They have not always gotten along but now they have a relationship that seems to work. When Arlene faints at their usual Tuesday morning buffet things begin to change. Emily needs to look inside to find the strength to do things she hasn't done before - or at least not in a long time. I think O'Nan did a great job of capturing the problems that older woman have to face and the emotions that go along with that time of life. I would highly recommend both of these books if you like stories about people and families.

The Dark Side of Innocence by Terri Cheney 616.895 Che

2011-04-21T18:28:00.002-05:00

I remember when the Library got Cheney's book Manic. I thought it looked like a good book but somehow it fell off of my radar before I got it read. I will definitely check it out now that I have read this book. Manic was her memoir of her adult struggle with bipolar disorder. This book tells the story of her childhood. I think growing up is tough enough when you are "normal". Fighting bipolor disorder seems impossible. And Terri did it without knowing what was wrong with her - but something was - she heard that often enough. Life was so painful that she tried to commit suicide at the age of 7. She had highs when she whipped through her homework and received the highest grades. She had lows which left her in bed for weeks. This is a tough book to read. But think about this -according to the book jacket, this illness affects one million children. So chances are you know or will know someone with it at some time in your life. Don't we owe it to these children to know a little bit about their world? Just a thought.

Home to Woefield

2011-04-19T14:29:00.003-05:00

When Prudence Burns, an idealistic back-to-the-land, whole-foods enthusiast, inherits her Uncle Harold's farm, she knows this is her dream-come-true. She packs up her New York apartment and embraces her new life.

Never mind that Woefield Farm is 30 scrubby acres of bad soil, dilapidated buildings, and a half-sheared sheep; nor that the closest she's come to farming is shopping at a farmer's market. When she learns that the bank is about to foreclose on Woefield, she enlists the help of Earl, her uncle's foreman in her plans to transform Woefield into a premier example of sustainable farming.

Earl has never heard of half of the "hippie" ideas Prudence spouts, and, to be honest, he's not much of a foreman either. But he's more helpful than Seth, a slacker celebrity blogger Prudence allows to room in the house in exchange for his dubious work skills.

Added to the mix is Sara Spratt, a serious 11-year-old looking for a place to keep her prize chickens. These four diverse characters (plus a handsome veterinarian Prudence can't stop thinking about despite her conviction that "vets invented mad cow disease") come together to help each other and save Woefield in this humorous, feel-good read.

I'm currently slogging through some heavy reads so Home to Woefield by Susan Juby has been my much-needed light break. It's humorous and fun and I particularly enjoyed the characters. Seth (or "chubnuts" as Earl calls him) relates all of life to heavy metal rock bands and after naming Sara's rooster Alec Baldwin (because of the chicken's impressive "star quality") decides he will help Sara win the poultry competition at the county fair. Meanwhile, Sara who has just read the "Left Behind" series is worried about Seth's moral condition. Earl is bewildered by all the changes on the farm but adapts to it all, even when Bertie, the half-sheared sheep, comes to live on his porch.

Susan Juby usually writes young adult books (a genre she pokes fun of in this book) but I enjoyed this foray into adult books and hope she writes a more. This book is the perfect mood-lifter for a rainy, cold, dreary day (like today).

Started Early, Took My Dog

2011-04-12T18:19:00.005-05:00

As a new officer on the British police force, young Tracy Waterhouse and her partner investigate a complaint of a stench coming from an apartment. They break down the door to discover a young boy and the decomposing body of his murdered mother. A social worker whisks the boy away, and the murder investigation quietly peters out.

Twenty-five years later, the murder still haunts Tracy. Something wasn't right and she's not entirely convinced that her fellow officers on the force didn't have something to do with it.

Now retired and working as a mall security officer, Tracy comes across an old acquaintance from her days as a cop, a drug addict named Kelly Cross who is yanking a young child by the arm. Tracy impulsively offers to buy the girl from Kelly and, to her surprise, Kelly agrees.

Suddenly after years of loneliness, Tracy finds herself to be the "owner" of Courtney, and she decides to escape with Courtney to start a new life as mother and daughter. But when detective Jackson Brodie comes around asking questions about a woman with a mysterious past, the old murder case threatens to destroy Tracy's new life with Courtney.

If the plot sounds a little complicated, that's because it is. As with all the Kate Atkinson novels featuring detective Jackson Brodie, the plot begins with diverse threads that gradually weave together to make a cohesive story. At first things make little sense with seemingly unrelated characters and storylines. Yet little by little they begin to intersect until the full story of the murder and the characters' mutual histories are revealed.

I love Kate Atkinson's books. She's one of my favorite authors but her stories are not for everyone. The plot is filled with coincidences that can seem contrived. It's a character-driven mystery that relies on details, so readers looking for a fast-paced, traditional mystery will be disappointed.

That said, I highly recommend it if you're looking for something that's a little different, something that will kick your brain into gear as you try to keep things straight in your head. The characters are very well developed, especially Tracy Waterhouse. Jackson Brodie is back (featured in Atkinson's Case Histories, One Good Turn, When Will There Be Good News) with his signature, understated humor. My only disappointment was when the book ended.

Between a Rock and a Hot Place by Tracey Jacks on 305.244Jac

2011-04-11T19:05:00.004-05:00

If you are wondering, the answer is yes - I do check out all of the new books that we get on 'organizing' and women 'of a certain age'. This one of course fits into the latter category. The theme of this book is to dispel the often-heard phrase that "50 is the new 30". Jackson talks about what 50 was like for her mother and grandmother and what it is like for her today. If you don't have time to read the book at least look at the table of contents and you will get a good laugh. (Like chapter 5 - "If I'm Thirty, Why do I Need a Colonoscopy?" ) Okay, not everyone will think that is funny but I did! Let me tempt you with another quote from the book. "Tight abs was not a phrase my grandmother had ever heard. And even if she had, her response would likely have been, Who needs that when you have a girdle?" Well, enough said. Either you are writing down the title or you can't imagine ever wanting to read it!

Love You More by Lisa Gardner

2011-04-11T17:49:00.003-05:00

Now this was a real mystery! It starts out with the shooting of a husband by Tessa, his wife - who happens to be a state trooper. Her six-year-old daughter, Sophie, is not in the house. At first glance it seems like a case in which the abused wife was being beaten and she finally fought back- with three shots from a gun. Her story starts to fall apart when the coroner finds something suspicious. Boston P.D. detective D.D. Warren is paired with her former partner (and more!), Bobby Dodge to try and unravel this baffling case. There is also a parallel story line involving Warren's personal life with boyfriend Alex. I loved the way the book was written. Tessa tells her story in the first person, teasing us along the way with bits of information that keep us guessing until the end. This is alternated with the story of the investigation. Real good mystery. Check out the book or listen to the audio book like I did.

Simply from Scratch by Alicia Bessette

2011-04-11T10:20:00.003-05:00

A year after her husband is killed while doing post-Katrina relief work, Zell is still mourning his loss - and trying to get on with her own life and is isolated from friends (who were with her husband on the trip) and family. When her neighbor's copy of a cooking magazine is mistakenly delivered to her home, she decides on a whim to enter a cooking contest. The reason? The $20,000 prize is just the amount her husband wanted to raise to help further Katrina relief. The problem? She doesn't cook. At all.

Enter Ingrid, the 9-year-old daughter next door. Convinced that the author of the cooking magazine is her mother, she offers to help Zell with her project. As they try to develop the perfect recipe, an unlikely friendship forms. And Zell begins the long journey from grieving to living.

I suppose this novel is fairly predictable. There are a number of local "characters" in the book, all of them likable. I found myself rooting for all of them. Although at times, I wanted to shake Zell and tell her to just get on with it, the author does a good job of showing someone working through the grieving process.

I know it's an overused phrase but this really is a "quick read" - and not a waste of time.